Representing one of the largest orders in the history of the British bus industry, FirstGroup has announced the signing of a contract for 955 vehicles over the next two years, worth some £160m.
The order includes 200 buses to transport people to London for the 2012 Olympic Games, and 40 hybrid buses – part funded by the Government's Green Bus Fund – which will operate in Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow.
UK manufacturers Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis have been awarded the contracts to build the buses.
"Our bus order is good news for customers, good news for British industry and in particular the transport sector," says Giles Fearnley, managing director of First UK Bus.
"Our £160m investment will help safeguard and create jobs in the UK, and it demonstrates our confidence in the marketplace, and reinforces our commitment to provide high quality services to our customers," he continues.
"We are very pleased to again feature so prominently in First's vehicle investment plans," says Wright Group's managing director, Mark Nodder. "In conjunction with our partner Volvo Bus, we have continued to work very closely with First to develop a very strong product and support proposition."
The new buses – double deckers and single deckers – will enter service from April and have low floor access and Euro 5 low-emission engines.
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